Senior Student Approaches End
Of Year Spent on Exchange
May 22 will mark the complete ful­
fillment at Vernonia high school of
an experience which for several
years was a dream toward which
the student body, aided by other or­
ganizations, was striving. It will be
the conclusion of the year during
which a foreign exchange student
was a member of the senior class.
The student is Akio Yamaguchi
who will be receiving his diploma
with mixed emotions for it will mark
the conclusion of a big experience
for him but will be a stepping stone
toward his return to his family in
Japan after almost a years absence.
Akio comes from Kaga, Japan
which he states is about ten hours
journey from Tokyo. He Ls the young­
est of five children and his parents
had both previously been teachers,
though his father now works for a
bureau which deals with labor prob­
lems.
His one brother runs a grocery
store, his eldest sister Ls married
to an architect, the second sister is
married to a printer and the third
sister is a government employee.
His parents are Budhists.
In Japan, Akio was attending sen­
ior high school, which is apparently
more like a junior college would be
here. It Ls not compulsory and stu­
dents must pass entrance exams
in ortk.T to enroll. Study schedules
are heavy and there is very little
social or extracurricular activity.
In the Japanese senior high school,
there is a different class schedule
for each day of the week. A student
carries 14 or 15 subjects. Also, clas­
ses are held a half day on Saturday.
Akio states that he had participat­
ed in English speaking clubs at
school and it was through teachers
in those that he first learned about
the program of the American Field
Service through which foreign stu­
dents were given the opportunity to
come to the United States to attend
school. Because tlx- idea appealed to
him, he entered the district exami­
nations to see if he could qualify.
Out of the 200 who took the district
exams, lie was one of seven who
passed.
He then went to Tokyo where all
the district winners took further ex­
ams which were passed by him and
the other six from his district all
of whom are now in the United
States.
All of this was begun in October of
1962 and it took much time for all
details to be accomplished so that
Akio was assigned a school and
family with whom to live during his
year in the United States.
For Vernonia high school, several
years had gone into planning for
having a foreign student here. An
American Field Service chapter was
organized here to help accomplish
this mission. The students at the
high school started a foreign ex­
change student fund and put on a
number of money making projects to
augment it. The $700 fund which had
to be raised seemed monumental
and it grew slowly. Aid from various
organizations helped bring it to the
required amount.
It will be recalled that last spring,
an announcement was made that
Vernonia high school was to have a
student from Japan. The home of
Robert C. Lindsay family had been
approved by the AFS as a place of
residence for the student. Everyone
had a feeling of excitement as the
dream was about to become reality.
A float in the 1963 Friendship Jam ­
boree parade was built around that
theme.
Then a shattering blow came when
the R. C. Lindsay family was trans­
ferred to Port Angeles. The require­
ments for the host home are strin­
gent and a family has to want the
responsibility of adding a foreign
student to their family. For a time
it seemed that the whole thing might
be lost and the student sent else­
where.
Then, Dr. and Mrs. T. M. Hobart
opened their home which was ap­
proved and they also went a step
further and “adopted' 'an American
son, really a nephew, Dick Christen­
sen from California, to be a part of
their family this year as a compan­
ion for Akio.
August 23, Akio boarded a plane
in Tokyo, along with some 130 other
Japanese students who were United
States bound and in 14 hours they
were in San Francisco. He said the
impact of the strangeness of a for­
eign country was great anti they
were all interested in just watching
people. Also, they found the sign
boards along highways, written in
English, of great interest and quite
amusing.
They were taken to Stanford Uni­
versity for an orientation program
before they separated for their var­
ious destinations.
Akio came to Portland by bus, a
trip that took another 14 hours, ex­
actly the time it had taken to fly
from Japan. He met his host family
in Portland and they brought him
4
THURSDAY, MAY 21, 1964 to Vernonia. He had not had any
idea what to expect but was rather
surprised that Vernonia was so
small. While his own immediate
community in Japan was small, it
was closely adjacent to a larger city
with a number of theaters and great­
PERCALE O
er civic and business area.
However, lie found Vernonia ex­
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tremely friendly and was surprised
— Free Patterns —
at the ease with which he became
Final Closing |)ay May 29
acquainted. He has liked the great­
er social activity in the school as
compared to what he was accustom­
ed to in Japan. The great amount
At Mile Bridge Riverview
of rain has bothered him and he has
missed Japanese food, though the
Hobarts have let him introduce them
to a numb«' of foods which they
have prepared under his direction
and with his help At school. Akio
found is very pleasant to meet one of
the teachers, James Fiske, who had
been in Japan for several years and
was of great help to Akio.
When Akio gets his diploma here,
it will be valuable to him for an en­
trance to college in Japan but will
not lie accepted as graduation from
a Japanese high school If he wants
that, he must go to school for an­
other half year after returning home
Akio does plan to attend university
and, at present, considers preparing
himself for service in the diplomatic
A farm means responsibili­
field
ties. The proper protection
of that farm . . . buildings,
In recent weeks, he has gone to
equipment, livestock, per­
high schools in adjacent communi­
sonal effects . . . is one of
ties to speak to their studentlxxlies.
those responsibilities. We'd
Also, after he completes school here,
like to give you a hand with
he and other exchange students will
planning complete farm in­
be given a tour of the United States,
surance protection in one
including Washington, DC. It will
up-to-date program that can
save you c o n fu sio n and
be July 23 before he leaves for Ja­
money. Sec us lo r ull the
pan.
facts.
Teachers and students at Vernonia
high school will miss Akio next year
He has fitted in well here, has been
a congenial part of the school and
has proved himself a good student,
earning membership in the' honor
Vernonia Insurance
society and a place among the top
Exchange
five students in the senior class
scholastically
The program of the American
■"i. HA 9 6203
Field Service is one that undoubted­
90S Bridge Street
ly promotes greater understanding
among the younger generation from
Representing
.
all countries whose students partici­
H anfo rd Accident and k
y
pate. It is hope that the impressions
Indemnity Company
left by Akio in this community ami
Member Hartford
the impressiona he takes with him
Insurance Group
H anford 15, Conn
to his hoiix- land will play mme
small port in better world under­
standing which will lead to a more
peaceful work! of tomorrow
Barrs Receive
News of Babe
BETTY ARMSTRONG
DELBERT
KATHY BARKER
BUSH
JEROME HAINES
MARTHA BUSH
JAMES LUCORE
WALTER HASCALL
GARY JONES
MARTHA MANGAT
LOUIS VIOLETTE
LEA ANN RAMSEY
KAREN RUSSELL
HATTIE ROBERTS
NORMA JEAN SARGENT
MIST—Mr. and Mrs. Doug Barr
received word from California that
they were great grandparents. They
are awaiting ward as to more vital
statistics.
Mrs. Vivian Wikstrom returned to
Eugene Friday morning after vis­
iting Mrs. Roy Kyser and family
several days. She visited with Mrs.
Maude Rogers ;ind Austin Dowling
and Florence.
Mr. and Mrs. Dick Herman of
Quincy and Mrs Martin Hansen vis­
ited the Doug Barrs Sunday. Wed­
nesday, Lt. and Mrs. Dean Barr
were guests of his folks. They were
in Clatskanie that evening to dinner
in honor of the Dean Bare’s recent
marriage May 2.
Guests Friday at the Shalmon Li­
bel home were his sister and hus­
band, Mr. and Mrs. Francis Burn-
ham of Portland. Another sister and
husband. Mr. ¿uxi Mrs. Ed Lindberg
of Astoria were callers Sunday.
Mrs. Lois Seawright anti Billy left
Monday for their home in Pacific
Palisades, Calif, after spending the
last two weeks with her sister, Mrs.
Fred Busch and family. Mrs. Busch
and Mrs. Norman Hansen and Randy
took her in to catch the plane. Sun­
day Mrs. Searight and the Busch
family helped Mrs. Busch celebrate
her birthday. In the afternoon the
group was in Scappoose so that Fred
could participate in the airplane
spot landing contest. Marilyn was
home over the week end to join the
family.
Mrs. Harry Reynolds was operat­
ed on Friday morning in Portland
The last report received indicated
that she was doing just fine and
was very cheerful.
5
Sixth Birthday of
Grandson Observed
MIST—Mr. and Mrs. Theron John­
ston of Rainier were visitors at the
Roy Kyser ami Clarence Kyser
homes Saturday evening Mr. and
Mrs. Clarence Kyser and family
were at Mr. and Mrs, Dale Leino's
home Saturday afternoon to help
their grandson, Jon, celebrate his
sixth birthday.
Mr. and Mi's. Ira Peterson and
Mr. anti Mrs. Doug Bare visited the
Charles Sundlands during the week.
Saturday eve. James Dorn and a
friend from Seattle stopped to see
the Sundlands while enroute to Mex­
ico. Mr. and Mrs. Ed Salomonsen
of Vernonia and Mr. and Mrs. Arby
Mills were guests Sunday,
Monday Mrs. James Swanson and
Mr. and Mrs. Carl Danielson of
Apiary visited at the Sam Devine
home. That evening Mr. anti Mrs.
Ed Danielson were callers. Mrs.
Devine visited friends in Vernonia
Thursday and both Mr. and Mrs. De-
vine were in Hillsboro Friday morn­
ing on business. Saturday evening
dinner guests at the Devines were
Mr. and Mrs. Bud Hemeon. Mr. and
Mrs. Shalmon Libel and Nancy Leon­
ard of Vernonia.
Mr. and Mrs. Roy Totten and fam­
ily anti Mrs. Vern Wagner of Port­
land were Sunday dinner guests at
the Lloyd Garloek home.
Mr. and Mrs. Don James of Port­
land were Sunday callers at the
Wayne Kyser home. Saturday even­
ing Mr. anti Mrs. Albert Blount and
family were short time visitors. Mrs.
Kyser was in Fern Hill Saturday
to visit her sister who has been
quite ill.
Order Now for Memorial Day Completion
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MAXWELL
NICHOLAS
BERG
. CHARLAINE HASKINS
CAROLE CHANDLER
DUANE JUSTICE
JEANNIE MASON
HALF-PRICE
DONALD ROBERTSON
ROBERT D.
1900 ♦ 1954
DARWIN WELCH
BERT SNYDER
ETHEL L.
1907 • 19
ok
Kl—
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•r.nf.À.'a
Fuifen and Friesen Mortuary
POLLY HUDSON
V E R N O N IA
$ FOREST GROVE
S
HENRY
RODEMIA.MKK
It takes many hands
to run a farm!
HELEN EKHOFE
DALE HILL
EDWARD KAMHOLZ
PHILLIP MEYER
PATRICIA BUNDLE
GARY THOMPSON
AKIO YAMAGUCHI
May success and happin ess be yours in your future endeavors . . . whatever they maybe
Lew s Cafe
Belen and John Wylde
Ben s Barber Shop
Olivia and Ben Brickel
Bob s Union Service
Eleanor, Bob and Les
Brunsman Hardware & Electric
Fisher s Appliance & Repair
Sherm and George
Keasey's Saw Shop
Julie Wiester and A1 Cavanaugh
Western Auto Associate Store
Allied J&H Lumber Company
The Vernonia Eagle
Marvin and Amy Kamholz
King's Grocery & Market
Spofford's Flower & Gift Shop
Vernonia Service Station
Dudley and Helen Spofford
George Johnson
Sunnyside Service
Fabrics 'n Fashions
Vi and Hans Slette
Doris Skidmore
Union Oil Company
Vernonia Trading Company, Inc.
Loel and Violet Roberts
and 88c Store
Emily, Bob and Earl
Linn Grocery
Nehalem Service, R iverview
Vernonia Branch
Ruth and Marion Steers
Sam's Food Store
D essy s
Enco Service
Horace and Carol and Hazel
Sam and Alvilda Hearing
Walter and Edna Linn
Joe and Wally Grosche
Vernonia Drug Company
Ralph Keasey
Bert and Isabelle — Dave and Peggy
Louis and Marion Lemaick
Pine Cone
Ruby and Cliff Fowler
Lloyd Callister
Nichols Variety
Bess and Bill Nichols
Jan-Lee Beauty Salon
Vernonia Clinic
Vernonia Milk Farms
Dr. Hobart, Dr. Hansen, Dr. Kramer
Henry and Isabel Anderegg
Vernonia Variety
Ron and Ruby McDonald
Montgomery Ward Sales Agency
Jean Myer
Tandy Shoe Repair
Albert and Zona Tandy
Vernonia Insurance
Bill and Reatha Horn
City Cafe
Vernonia Radio & T.V.
Jessie Monaco
Sales & Service — Julius Hytrek
Stona Serafin - Esther Ring
E&B Laundry & Dry Cleaners
Dorothy's Coffee Break
Ralph's Chevron Service
Nehalem Valley Laundromat
and Dry Cleaners
Columbia River Real Estate
and Quinn Insurance
Standard Oil Company
Crown Construction Co., Inc.
Darigold Farms
Dorothy Hass
Vernonia Federal Credit Union
Ed Roediger, Plumbing
Ralph Sturdevant
West Oregon Electric Co-op.
Fuilen-Friesen Chapel
Mist, Oregon
Vernonia Card Room
Rex and John McRae
Birkenfeld Grocery
Emma Etheridge
Standard Dairy
Mill Market and Lockers
Stona - Esther - Ann - Carol
Edward Bredeau
The Mist Store
Bill Nelson and Wesley Bolmeier
V. S. National Bank
Mar-Ona Boolery
Joe and Trudy Magoff
Kate's Cafe
Dean's Market
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BILL J. HORN
THURSDAY, MAY 21, 1964
M EM O RIALS
RICHARD WEAVER
Demonia Eagle
Everything Going at
Ocrnonia Cagie
Photos Courtesy Bruno Studios
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